All of the “Oral Expression in English” courses are devoted to improving students' skills in speaking. Apart from making presentations, effective speaking also involves effective listening, so the classwork and homework in these courses require that students carry out both interactive speech and get engaged in listening exercises.
As a graduate-level elective course, Oral Expression in English 14 continues the approach taken by Oral Expression in English 13 with its focus on students making critical responses to readings provided in advance of the weekly class. Students will discuss the readings in detail, and they will make oral presentations about phenomena and behaviours that they think exemplify or are related to the topics of particular readings.
By the end of this course, students will be able to recognise and discuss (both in class and elsewhere) about multiple examples from their daily lives and from the media describing phenomena and behaviours introduced in the readings.
speaking, listening,oral communication, interactive
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
We will watch and analyze excerpts from advanced-level TED talks on a variety of topics, paying attention to presentation techniques to be integrated into our own midterm and final presentations; we will discuss complex concepts using advanced vocabulary and grammar structures.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Unit 7, Same but different | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 2 | Unit 8, Food and sustainability | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 3 | Unit 9, Internet sensation | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 4 | Midterm presentations | presentations applying techniques learned in class; feedback from students |
Class 5 | Unit 10, The meaning of success | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 6 | Unit 11, Learning and memory | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 7 | Unit 12, Invention or innovation | assessment of presentation skills, critical thinking, and techniques in a TED talk; related exercises and readings |
Class 8 | Final Presentations | presentations applying techniques learned in class; feedback from students |
Paul Dummett, Helen Stephenson, and Lewis Lansford, Keynote Proficient (National Geographic Learning, 2017)
to be shared in class
class participation 60%
midterm presentation 20%
final presentation 20%
none
It is recommended that students take this course in sequence with LAE.E431 (Oral Expression in English 13).
Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course.